The posters – put up by West Midlands Police – featured a crime scene with the outline of a body made up from coppers.

Accompanied by the title ‘Your kindness could kill’ and a police logo, their message read: “The money you give to those who beg may actually keep them on the streets.”

‘Insensitive and crass’

“In most cases, you will be helping them to buy drugs that could kill them. Give responsibly, support local charities instead.”

However, the posters were met with criticism on social media, with one person calling on the public to “rip them down” if they saw any of them.

I did not and do not approve of the message. I’ve discussed with @wmpolice They’re been taken down after going up in error, they do not represent @wmpolice position either. They are insensitive, crass and shouldn’t have been produced in the first place https://t.co/1uTK6YSz22

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